4D Planning in the Century of Complexity: A Lecture by Matt Wetli

In 2000, Steven Hawking stated that we are entering the “Century of Complexity”—acknowledging the opportunities of continued human achievement and the increasing threats to stability that are brought about by rapid change. That these problems are likely to be addressed by people living and working in cities—in places that foster interaction among a variety of thinkers and problem-solvers—will heighten the importance of planning as the profession that can establish the necessary systems, networks, and places needed to foster human advancement.

About Matt Wetli:

Matt has a passion for identifying, visualizing, and helping communities act on opportunities to create great places, with an emphasis on urban redevelopment and new town centers. His focus has been in understanding the economic conditions (i.e., market and financial) and urban design qualities (such as public space and walkability) that result in vibrant, mixed-use communities. Increasingly, he has been involved in devising economic and community development strategies that complement real estate-based revitalization efforts. Matt has managed numerous projects, taking an approach that first emphasizes marketable ideas and concepts and then tests and supports those ideas with market and financial analysis. He is eager to understand ways in which the changing demographic landscape is shaping future opportunities, and how investments in people, places, and buildings can enable communities to evolve and achieve their potential as economically thriving and livable places